Cotton holder for dental use



21, 1952 R. P. HARTIG COTTON HOLDER FOR DENTAL USE Filed April 2, 1951 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 21, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT o I cE.;

" Rolf P. Hartig, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application April 2, 1951, Serial No. 218,759 1 2 Claims. (oi. -e2--s5 My invention-relates to dental apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in dental absorbent roll holders such as are used to hold rolls of cotton in position to absorb saliva during operations within the oral cavity.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which may be utilized to effectively position absorbent rolls adjacent the teeth in the upper and lower jaws as well as adjacent the roWs of teeth on opposite sides of either of said jaws.

A still further highly important object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which may be inexpensively produced and which is light in weight.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is extremely easy and safe to use and which occupies a minimum of space within the oral cavity.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my novel structure;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation, looking from right to left with respect to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, illustrating a method of inserting absorbent cotton rolls unto my novel structure;

Fig. i is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section of my novel device in operation between upper and lower jaws, some parts being broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a View corresponding to Fig. 4 but showing my novel structure interposed between the teeth on opposite sides of one jaw.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates, in its entirety, a novel body preferably and as shown formed from a length of relatively narrow resilient stock such as spring steel. Body I is formed in generally V-shape to provide a pair of diverging arms 2 which, at their inner converging ends, are formed to provide an arcuate loop 3. It will be noted that the arms 2 diverge from said loop 3 at a constant angle for the greater part of their length, the same being bent inwardly as indicated at 5, whereby to provide end portions 5 which diverge at a lesser angle. The extreme outer ends of the arms 2 are bent backwardly upon themselves in opposite directions in closely spaced substantially parallel relationshlptothe outer surfaces 6 of the arms 2, whereby to provide cotton roll-receiving needlesl. It willbe noted, particularly by reference to Fig. 2-, .that. the needles 7 taper throughout their lengths to pointed ends 8. It will also be noted that the needles I are of less overall length than the arms 2 and that the pointed ends 8 are biased toward engagement with opposite sides of the looped portion 3. Thus, the needles l are substantially tangential to the looped portions. The importance of this feature will hereinafter become apparent.

The manner of inserting cotton rolls X unto the needles 7 is illustrated in Fig. 3. As there shown, the arms 2 and needles 7 are compressed, whereby the points 8 are caused to separate a from the looped portion 3. Thereafter, the points 8 are caused to pass through the outer layers of the roll X and extend longitudinally thereof in closely spaced relation to the outer wall for the greater part of the length of said roll. Where the points 8 are allowed to remain within the absorbent rolls X, there is no danger of the same coming into contact with the gums or other portion of the mouth of the patient being treated. However, in the event that the needle 8 passes into and out from the cotton roll 8, the fact that the needles 1 are biased so as to cause the points 8 to come into contact with the looped end 3 in a substantially tangential manner is a great safety factor as it prevents the points 8 from coming into contact with the gums or other portions of the mouth.

Of further importance is the fact that the outer ends 5 of the arms 2 are inwardly bent as at 4 as are those spaced parallel portions of the needles i. This feature of my novel invention adds sufficient frictional engagement between the needles i and their cooperating arms 2 to discourage iccidental removal of the rolls X from the needle '17.

In Fig. 4, I have shown my novel invention in use in positioning cotton rolls X, one adjacent the teeth A in the upper jaw Y and one adjacent the teeth A in the lower jaw Z. It will be noted that, in such use, the looped portion 3 is positioned toward the back of the mouth, whereby the resilience of the diverging arms 2 will tend to retain the patients jaws apart during the oral operation.

In Fig. 5, the resilience of the arms 2 is utilized to retain the rolls X against the gums B on opposite sides of the lower jaw Z. It will be there 3 noted that the looped portion 3 is forwardly positioned with respect to the mouth.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and, while I have disclosed a commercial embodiment of said invention, it is obvious that the same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a body formed from flexible resilient stock to provide a pair of diverging arms which are'formed at their converging ends to provide an arcuate loop, the free ends of said diverging arms being backturned upon themselves to provide pointed cotton roll-receiving needles, said needles being closely spaced from said arms throughout their length and having their pointed ends in substantially tangential engagement with opposite sides of said looped portion.

2. In a device of the class described, a body formed from narrow resilient stock to provide a 4 pair of arms which are joined together at their inner ends to provide an arcuate loop, said arms diverging from said loop at a constant angle for the greater part of their length and at a lesser angle at their outer end portions, said arms at their outer end portions being backturned upon themselves to provide tapering cotton rollreceiving needles which converge in the direction of said loop and terminate in substantially tangential engagement therewith.

ROLF P. HAR'IIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Di 28,448 Walker et a1. Apr. 5, 1898 1,986,275 Lowry Jan. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 524,370 Germany May 6, 1931 

